Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Choose and gather supplies
Step 2:
Set up the box
Step 3:
Get the cat in the box
Step 4:
Take charge of accidents

2torial 0886 - Step 4:
Learn2 Housebreak a Cat (Continued)

Take charge of accidents

Even the most sanitary cat can have a lapse in judgment. If this happens to yours, remember these guidelines.

• When your cat does have an accident, or doesn't quite remember the litter box idea, don't punish it. You never want to make your cat uncomfortable about using the litter box. Instead, when it goes outside the box, wipe up the mess with a paper towel (always good to have on hand in a cat household) and put the towel in the litter box along with the cat. Take her paws and scrape the litter so she connects her waste with the litter box.
  
  
• Keep your cat in a small, confined room with the litter box for a while if it doesn't seem to get the idea very quickly. Try not to move the location of the box around too much, however, so your cat doesn't get confused about where it is.
  
  
• Be sure to clean stains thoroughly, since some cats may smell former accidents and use the same spot again. Avoid using cleaning agents with ammonia in them, since Kitty may interpret this as urine and reuse the same spot. You can try treating urine-stained carpets with warm water and a small amount of dish soap, and later, after the spot has dried, with an ammonia-free and bleach-free household cleaner.
  
  
• Sometimes cats that have been using the litter box without problem suddenly stop. No, your cat hasn't lost its memory. It could be that the type of litter you buy has a chemical smell, which turns your cat off. Or if you haven't cleaned the box out in a while, it could be too dirty. If you have more than one cat, make sure you remove feces daily so the cats aren't put off by each other's waste. If the problem persists, call your vet. It could be a health-related.

It's not always easy to live happily side by side with a completely different species--be it your spouse or your pet. But by understanding your cat's habits and firmly teaching it what you expect, you'll be sure to have a harmonious relationship.

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